Completion of King’s Cross station redevelopment in 2012 will allow extra long-distance trains to run.
LONG-distance passenger numbers on the East Coast main line could increase by 40 per cent by 2016, according to Network Rail’s newly released Route Utilisation Strategy.
The route, from London to Scotland via Yorkshire and the North East, along with commuter routes into London, Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh, is already one of the busiest railway lines in Britain.
The strategy seeks to meet growing demand while making journeys more reliable. It says growth will particularly continue on the route’s southern portion, where it is already at its busiest.
Two main upgrade schemes are set out: improving the Hertford loop and developing the parallel Peterborough-Doncaster route via Lincoln mainly for freight traffic.
Plans to redevelop King’s Cross continue and – coupled with the diversion of outer suburban services onto the Thameslink route from 2015 – will allow more main line trains to use the terminal.
Power upgrades will allow for extra and longer services while other infrastructure schemes will improve capacity, performance and journey times for passengers and freight. Longer platforms will increase peak capacity, particularly for suburban services. Some of the work – such as the Hertford loop and the freight relief line will help meet aspirations for a seven-day railway.
While the Hertford loop already provides a supplementary route, power supply restrictions limit its useful-ness and work is planned to upgrade the power supply.
Other work – on both the loop and the main line through Welwyn, including preparatory work for Thameslink – such as platform extensions will add capacity and contribute to the flexibility and resilience of the route on its approach to London.
Further north, upgrading the parallel route from Peterborough to Doncaster through Spalding, Sleaford, Lincoln and Gainsborough will, in effect, double the length of four-track railway available and increase overall capacity, principally for freight traffic, while providing a diversionary route.
Investment in the Hertford loop and alternative Peterborough-Doncaster section gives the most effective solution, says the strategy, by giving extra capacity – which also makes the route much more flexible during engineering works or operational problems.
The Lincoln route would not, however, be electrified, so its usefulness as a diversionary route would rely on successful development of the InterCity Express dual-powered train.
Freight services on the East Coast route, which has links to a number of major ports, distribution centres and power stations, will also benefit from gauge enhancements, particularly from Doncaster southwards.
Network Rail’s route director, Dyan Crowther, said: “This Route Utilisation Strategy
sets out how we will make the necessary investment to improve reliability while meeting the demands of rising passenger numbers and freight growth over the coming years.
“The publication of this strategy is another milestone for this thriving line.”
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What a load of rubbish! Upgrading diversionary routes - yes.... leaving the speed at 125mph a complete waste of an opportunity when removing much freight from the mainline.
This is a real scrooge 'upgrade'. How thsi can be called an upgrade of any kind is beyond me. The existing trunk route won't significantly improve London - Edinburgh markets and this will continue to be flown. Not even the sheer mention of a future upgrade to 140mph was mentioned at all. Lousy and very boring plan if you ask me. I'm sure they could have done so much better.
Richard Woodward, Leeds, UK